Background
Nitric oxide (NO) was initially identified as a muscle relaxation factor, mediating its effects on smooth
muscle by coordinating the heme moiety of guanylate cyclase, leading to enhanced production of cGMP.
Besides smooth muscle relaxation, NO also influences a variety of biological systems including cell
proliferation, apoptosis, neurotoxicity, Parkinson disease, extracellular matrix remodeling. Many of its
effects are mediated through protein nitrosylation.
Peroxynitrite (ONOO–) is formed in the chemical reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide. ONOO–
nitrates free tyrosine and tyrosine residues in proteins; modifications that are used as markers of ONOO–
action under conditions of cellular damage and in numerous diseases.
This control is manufactured by nitration of bovine serum albumin in vitro using peroxynitrite as the NO
donor.